An efficient photocatalyst for degradation of various organic dyes: Ag@Ag2MoO4–AgBr composite

•Ag@Ag2MoO4–AgBr composite is synthesized by in-situ exchange and photo depositio nmethod.•Compared with pure Ag2MoO4 crystal, the photocatalytic activity of Ag@Ag2MoO4–AgBr composite was increased by 348.4%.•Silver particles act as electron trap to enhance electron–hole separation.•This composite has the promising application to degrade organic wastewater. The Ag2MoO4-AgBr composite was prepared by a facile in-situ anion-exchange method, then the Ag nanoparticles were coated on this composite through photodeposition route to form a novel Ag@Ag2MoO4–AgBr composite. The in-situ Br− replacement in a crystal lattice node position of Ag2MoO4 crystal allows for overcoming the resistance of electron transition effectively. Meanwhile silver nano-particles on the surface of Ag@Ag2MoO4–AgBr composite could act as electron traps to intensify the photogeneration electron-hole separation and the subsequent transfer of the trapped electron to the adsorbed O2 as an electron acceptor. As an efficient visible light catalyst, the Ag@Ag2MoO4–AgBr composite exhibited superior photocatalytic activity for the degradation of various organic dyes. The experimental results demonstrated superior photocatalytic rate of Ag@Ag2MoO4–AgBr composite compared to pure AgBr and Ag2MoO4 crystals (37.6% and 348.4% enhancement respectively). The Ag@Ag2MoO4–AgBr composite cloud degraded Rhodamin B, bromophenol blue, and amino black 10b completed in 7min.